☆

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, CLARA HAD tried to avoid her family as much as possible. She'd woken up far later than usual and waited until she knew that both Finn and Tommy had left for the day. Throughout the day, she ignored John and Arthur's pitiful looks and the careful eyes that watched in case she would break again. She did not give them satisfaction. The girl kept her nose stuck in her book as she weaved through the betting den, not bothered to look up as people moved out of her way. She'd spent the whole day indoors, mainly going in and out of her bedroom.

Her body was quite sluggish, in fact, she felt hungover without even having drunk anything. Clara felt jaded. Her mind wasn't even taking in the words she read, she just stared at the pages in hopes of focusing her mind. The girl sat on the stairs inside of number six Watery Lane while her legs folded beneath him. She leaned against the bannister, her book being held lazily in one hand.

"CLARA!"

The girl didn't look up at John's call, she didn't even flinch. Clara remained focused on the book, her eyes staring holes into the pages. She could hear loud, rapid footsteps approaching, yet she did not move.

"Oi, weasel, up, I got a job for ya," John stated, hitting her head through the bannister. Clara looked up, her eyebrow raised as her brother stood in front of her and waved a thick stack of papers. "Need you to drop these accounts up to Michael at the offices."

"And you can't?" The girl asked, as she carefully closed her book.

"It's payday, so I can't," he sniffed while he handed her the papers. "So get to it."

"Making your sister do your work just because you want to go out and get and drink doesn't quite seem fair," Clara mused, taking the papers nevertheless.

"Seems fair to me," John smirked, "Make sure Michael has them before six."

Clara glanced towards the grand clock straight across from her. "But it's quarter to now!" She complained.

"Better get a move on then," John shrugged, disappearing back into the betting den. Clara huffed and reluctantly stood to her feet. She placed the papers on the kitchen table as she threw on one of Finn's coats. Her one was still soaked from the night before. She untucked her hair from inside the jacket and pulled on her hat. With another grumble, she picked up the papers and left the house.

Clara kept her head down as she walked. Her pace was quick, and every so often she pulled out her watch to check the time. Her eyes flitted over the paper's contents every once in a while, trying to decipher the typed information. She was only glad it hadn't begun to rain.

When Clara finally arrived at the Shelby Company Limited offices, she climbed the stairs in long strides and practically sped towards Michael's office with her pocket watch in hand. She heard voices coming from the office.

"And I'm twenty-two seconds ahead of the deadline," Clara sheepishly grinned, tucking her pocket watch back into her pocket. She looked up at Michael and Isiah who had paused their conversation as she appeared. "John said to give you these." She handed the papers over to Michael who was still scribbling numbers.

"Thanks," Michael replied hurriedly. Clara's brows raised, looking at Isiah who looked rather dejected.

"Alrigh', Isiah?" The girl asked, shoving her hands into her pockets as she leaned against the filing cabinets. "It's payday, shouldn't you be out already?"

"I'm trying," Isiah said, looking at Michael rather pointedly. "You coming?"

"Don't see why not," Clara shrugged, "Need you to do me a favour though if I do."

"Deal."

Clara firmly shook Isiah's hand, before she looked towards Michael. "You should come, Michael," she began.

"Come on, it's payday." Isiah sighed, "Everybody has a drink on payday."

"Not me." The Gray boy answered bluntly.

"You think your mum don't have a drink on payday?" Isiah asked before his lips turned up. "You think the Lord Almighty don't have a drink on payday?" Clara allowed herself to smile at the impression of his father as he continued. "Man, it's on fire out there, women from the BSA offices, honest. They go out on their own without their men these days, in twos and threes now."

Isiah stopped as if looking for a reaction out of Michael. "Mickey, they go out in twos and threes and buy their own drinks. The Marquis, that's where the BSA secretaries go." He tried again before he sighed loudly. Look, they won't serve a black man without a Shelby by his side."

"Clara's going," Michael huffed.

"I can barely get served by myself, use your brains," she smirked.

"So you're using me?" Michael asked Isiah, leaning back in his seat with a faint smile.

"Yeah, come on." Isiah chuckled.

And just like that, Michael had been convinced.

☆

"WHY DO I NEED TO DO THIS AGAIN?" Isiah huffed as Clara shoved his shoulder towards the house, his Peaky hat clutched in her hands. They'd only been walking for five minutes when Clara had redirected them through a few alleys much to Michael's dismay.

"Because I bloody can't," she snapped, "just tell him he has no choice, okay?"

"Fine," Isiah rolled his eyes and walked up to the door as Clara pulled Michael flat against the wall beside the house.

"Don't say a word," she whispered to Michael as she leaned closer to the edge of the wall to listen.

"Why not?"

Clara glared at him before her head whipped around at the sound of the door opening.

"Uh...is Will in?" Isiah questioned. Clara scrunched her eyebrows as a small voice called out for the boy. Molly had answered the door. The Shelby girl almost dropped to her knees and thanked God at that very moment.

"Oh...hello?" Will's voice echoed through the night and Clara crossed her fingers as she listened to the two talk. He sounded confused as to why Isiah was there.

"Is your mum at home?"

Clara's eyes widened as Isiah asked. She crept closer to the edge, listening more intently, her heart pounding faster than ever.

"She's upstairs, I think?" Will sounded confused, "Look what's all this about?"

Clara sighed and eventually walked out from behind the wall as Isiah patted her shoulder. "Hey, Clarke," She winced, her eyes glanced behind her at Isiah and Michael who were now talking amongst themselves.

"Shelby," Will nodded, his eyes subtly darting behind him. "What you doing here?"

"I owe you a drink...and I want to repay that debt...like tonight? Like right now, at The Marquis?" Clara stumbled her way through her sentence, suddenly feeling a lot more nervous than usual. "So, I guess what I'm asking is, do you wanna come?"

The girl had already lost a chunk of her soul's foundation which had left as soon as Penny had fled. She needed her friend. She really needed him. (She would never admit that to him). Will shoved his hands into his pockets as if contemplating the offer.

"Y'know what Shelby?"

Clara was close to cracking. Her straight face was taut and unmoving.

"Buy me two drinks and we have a deal." Will grinned, sticking out his hand. Clara bit back a small smile as she shook his hand. She was tugged towards him as he wrapped his free arm around her. The girl chuckled, wrapping her arm around his shoulder as he leaned forward and whispered. "And maybe a third for good luck?"

"You have yourself a bloody deal, Clarke..."

☆

WILL HAD HIS ARM SLUNG ACROSS CLARA'S shoulders as they walked behind Isiah and Michael. He had shown her his newly acquired scar which ran down his cheek, one which now matched the scar Clara had. He claimed they were now both Frankenstein offspring and Clara was quick to remind him that he still hadn't read the damn book.

It felt normal? Well, as normal as William Clarke and Clara Shelby could possibly get.

"You doing snow again?" Will suddenly questioned as they walked. The girl scrunched her nose ever so slightly and looked down at the gravel beneath her.

"Sometimes," She admitted, "just when it gets too..."

"Loud?" He finished for her and the girl reluctantly nodded. It was the same excuse she gave him countless times before. "Just be careful with it, I know how you can get...you know how you can get."

Clara swallowed trying to get rid of the lump in her throat. "I shouldn't have said those things to you at the Garrison," she began, "I was out of line."

"Shelby, I've known you since we could crawl down Watery Lane covered in our own shit," Will stopped walking and forced the girl to do the same. "You were out of line, but so was I...taking that job, I mean, I shouldn't have done it."

"That's different, Will, you needed the money," Clara interrupted, "Let me feel bad for treating you like shit without you being all fuckin' reassuring." The boy snickered, his head bowed. "Look, I'm sorry...and I'm sorry that you got hurt on the job."

"You got me paid more than I should've been," Will sighed, "I know you think you're big and bad, but you're a good person, Clara, a bit thick in the head, but a good person."

Clara allowed herself to laugh at the boy's words, "I almost killed my brothers when I heard about what happened at Winson Green, even destroyed John's office." She recalled as they began walking again.

"Yet, you didn't visit me?" Will asked, "What? No tears for your best friend? Even Penny came."

Clara's heart froze as her name fell from Will's mouth. She looked down at her feet as she tried to avoid cracking. She wouldn't crack. She still had some foundation left.

"I tried to," She eventually answered, "I really did...As soon as I heard, I ran to the hospital. Your mum kicked me out."

"Oh,"

"Yeah..."

"A card would've been nice at least," Will continued, dismissing the previous downtrodden conversation. "I always did love a good 'get well soon' card."

"Well, let's hope you don't get any, any time soon," Clara weakly smiled as Will, once again, swung his arm over her shoulder.

"Ah, we can only hope,"

The two walked side by side as they entered the pub. Michael and Isiah were already at the bar. Clara took off her hat like she did when entering any establishment. It was busy in the Marquis, nobody batted an eye as the two waltzed towards the two junior Peaky boys at the countertop.

"Fuck that." Isiah exclaimed, "We're Peaky boys. Two whiskeys."

"Make that four," Clara called as she leaned against the counter. She watched as Michael lit a cigarette, wincing as he inhaled.

"You get used to it, then you can't stop," Isiah spoke, taking a drag out of his own.

"Especially 'round here," Clara chuckled, as Will lit her one of his cigarettes and handed it to her. "Why thank you, kind sir." She inhaled the smoke like it was a breath of fresh meadow air. She glanced at the barman in front of her who avoided her gaze at the sight of her hat tucked under her arm.

A sharp whistle came from behind them, and all four of them turned at the sound. "I don't drink with blacks." A man announced. Clara's jaw clenched as Isiah sighed.

"Here we fucking go." He cursed.

"Paddy, they're okay." The barman nodded, almost nervously, Clara noted. He knew exactly who they were.

"Not with me, they're not." The man shook his head. "I don't drink in pubs with blacks."

"So leave." Michael coldly spoke up.

"And let the bloody door hit ya on the way out," Clara hissed as she rolled her eyes. Will was glaring at the man, his fists clenched angrily.

"Look, my dad is the preacher 'round here." Isiah civilly explained and Clara had to admire his calmness. "He has connections, ask anybody."

"I couldn't give a fuck who he is." The man spat.

"I'm telling you to leave it, Paddy." The barman tried once more, his tone carrying multiple warnings.

"And I'm telling this d***** to get out of here." The man scoffed.

"You know something? Fuck off." Isiah snapped, causing Clara to stand up straighter.

"It's all right, Isaiah, come on, leave it." Michael urged, "We'll go to my cousin's pub." Clara remained silent but shook her head, her eyes darting around the pub as more men stood to their feet. She let out a breath at the sight, subtlety rolling up her sleeves.

"I like it here." Isiah sneered, getting closer to the man.

"You fucking—" Clara's eyes widened as the man spat out yet another slur before he punched Isiah across the face. The rest of the men that had gathered around, jumped in and began to attack both Michael and Isiah. Clara and Will glanced at each other with a firm nod before Clara went to help her cousin and Will went to the men surrounding Isiah.

A man had slammed Michael against a table which earned him a sharp punch across the face. The girl kicked the back of the man's knees and as he fell to the floor. Michael hit him straight in the nose with a sickening crunch. Two hands clamped down on Clara's shoulders, jerking her back. Anger flared inside of Clara as she drove her elbow backwards, nailing the perpetrator in his sternum, she spun to face him quickly, ducking under his punch as she sent a sharp kick to his stomach. She grabbed the back of his head and slammed it repeatedly against her kneecap with a yell of fury. The rage coursing through her veins for the last few weeks finally exploded inside of her as she released her grip and allowed the body to hit the floor with a heavy thump.

Clara stood up, her chest rising and falling as shouts echoed all over the pub. Her head whipped to the side, a sudden rush of warmth and pain spreading up her face. She cracked her jaw and spat blood from her mouth, her fingertips brushing across her split lip. Her face hardened as she turned to the man who had punched her. He hit her across the face again, and this time she fell. She landed painfully on the balls of her feet but swept a leg under the man's ankles which sent him toppling backwards. Something clicked in her mind because she suddenly remembered her hat's existence and swiftly grabbed it from the counter behind them. She grabbed her hat and slashed the man across the cheek, blood spilling in pools of red. She'd cut him. It wasn't deep but it wasn't exactly shallow either.

It was the first time she'd actually used the blades.

The man below her looked terrified at the sight of the blades.

Good.

The angry girl regained her balance, her eyes glancing around as a man held Michael against the counter. She watched Isiah head-butt a man and as Will kicked a man to ensure he stayed quiet.

"Paddy!" The barman shouted, his voice ringing around the now quieter pub. "The white kid's a Peaky Blinder! So's the girl! She's the Shelby kid and he's Polly Shelby's son!" The man stumbled away from Michael. "A Shelby kid and Polly Shelby's son! Are you fucking suicidal?"

"Sir...Miss, I'm sorry, I didn't know." The man panted, his eyes now wide in panic as he glanced between the two.

"Get out!" Michael hissed.

"Get out the fucking pub," Isiah yelled.

"I really didn't know." The man backed away with his hands up. He passed Clara, who promptly stuck out her foot, which in turn caused the man to trip and stumble back into the retreating group.

"Oops," she snarled, spitting out another mouthful of blood with a nonchalant shrug.

"Fuck, let's go. Let's go!" The men hurriedly retreated, exiting the pub. Clara strolled towards the bar counter, standing beside Will who now sported a small cut above his eyebrow as well as a few dark red patches which Clara knew would bruise.

"We ordered some drinks and we're going to drink them," Michael said firmly, his cold stare glaring down the barman. The barman gulped as he poured four shots of whiskey.

"Alright, Will?" Clara smiled, taking her shot and handing Will his. She knocked her glass against his before the two downed it in one.

"You might owe me an extra drink for that, Shelby" he chuckled as he rolled out his shoulders.

And Clara merely laughed, ignoring the stares from the remaining people in the pub.

☆

THE FOUR STROLLED DOWN GARRISON LANE, Will's arm, once again, nonchalantly draped over Clara's shoulder as they laughed and basked in the smoky night air. Men roamed the Lane walking back and forth between factories. It was a night where everything felt as they had felt before the drama that ensued these past few months.

"His face, man. Did you see his fucking face?" Michael laughed.

"You punch like a fucking kangaroo." Isiah sputtered, his lips twisted into a smile. "I seen one once in a circus, you punch like that."

"All right, anyway, I need a fucking drink," Michael announced, raising his arms.

"You and me fucking both!" Clara snickered, as Will erupted in hearty cheers beside her. The four strode towards the Garrison, swinging open the doors to reveal the pub which was filled to the brim with people having drinks for payday. The girl slipped out from under Will's arm as they entered.

"Get two whiskey's," she sniffed, handing the boy a handful of change. "I'll wait in the snug."

"Alright, Shelby," Will disappeared into the crowd as Clara shoved open the closed snug door. She slipped inside with a grin plastered across her face.

"He misses us, Finn, that's what it is." John laughed, grabbing Finn in a headlock.

"Oh and we miss you too, Arthur," Clara cooed jokingly although her face remained straight. She slumped into the bench with a wolfish grin as her fingers lightly pinched Arthur's cheek while he scoffed and shoved her away.

"What happened to your face?" Finn questioned, eyeing her bruised cheek and split lip. The girl sniffed and plastered a smile across her face.

"I fell."

"You fell?"

"Yep." The girl lied nonchalantly as she leaned back into the bench.

There was no way she was going to tell her brothers about the fight at the Marquis. Not when she'd spent so many fond nights in the pub with Penny. Not when it was one of the only pubs her brothers rarely occupied. The questioning was dropped as the door swung open once more revealing Michael, Isiah and Will who all carried drinks in their hands

"Here they are, look, junior Peaky boys." Arthur boomed, as all three boys took their seats. Will leaned forward and handed the girl her drink, earning him a grateful nod in return.

"What's happened to you? You been scrapping?" Arthur smugly asked, looking between all four of them. Clara silently pleaded that none of the boys would give up what happened. Isiah and Will knew better, but Michael didn't.

"Some idiots at the Marquis of Lorne." Michael stated, "Tried to stop me and Isaiah from drinking, but it's all right. We fought them off." Clara shook her head ever so slightly as she leaned further back into the bench. "Arthur, we had to stand our ground and we did."

"The Marquis, eh?" Arthur questioned as John, Finn and he all stood at the same time, pushing Finn back down onto the bench. The older man looked at Isiah. "Where's your dad?"

"Preaching." Isiah shrugged.

"Right." Both Arthur and John moved out from behind the table and towards the snug door.

"Don't nick any of me chips, Finn!" John warned on his way out.

"Where are you going?" Michael asked while Clara hung her head.

"We won't be long."

"Where are they going?" Michael had turned back to Isiah, Will and Clara who were all looking down.

"The Marquis of Lorne," Will answered with a wince.

"Shame...It was a nice pub." Isiah answered wistfully while he lit his cigarette.

"Very fucking nice," Clara huffed as she gulped down her drink.

It was a shame to see the pub go, especially when so many memories had been created there— the majority of them circling Penny. It was as if one of the only connections left to the girl was now gone, snipped like a piece of thread. She had expected her brothers to intervene once they inevitably caught wind of what had happened that night.

She just hadn't expected how much it would hurt.

☆

OKAY THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: TW: suicide ig?

I love receiving comments. They motivate me to write and they make me want to share even more of my work. I do not, however, love getting comments where people threaten to kill themselves if I don't do something specific to my characters and their stories.

It makes me very uncomfortable and stressed and I understand that you may write it out as a joke but I overthink about it and inevitably spiral. I don't want to think of having someone's life depending on my writing, whether it is a joke or not. It's not fair. If you could refrain from making 'jokes' like such, I'd really appreciate it <3

ANYWAYS, HELLO MY GORGEOUS READERS! How are you on this fine Friday? I am doing okay, I've been quite tired over the past few days but other than that I've been alright!

Here's your weekly meme and I'll see you next week! LOVE YOU!